I've posted these in the past, but before we get the upcoming campaign underway, it's probably a good idea to bring them up again. Below are some basics of what I consider to be good RPG manners. For most everyone these will be obvious, but they all are worth mentioning. There are likely more, but these are the ones that came to the forefront of my mind.

Keep your commitment

We are playing a monthly game. When a date has been agreed upon by you, and all of the players, it is your responsibility to attend the scheduled game. This will be especially important in the Haldane campaign, where the focus is on the group dynamic. Not showing up will greatly hinder your fellow players, or perhaps even cause the session to be cancelled due to lack of players, or needed players (such as the party’s fighter).

I’d also like to extend this topic to include a “don’t cancel at the last minute” clause. Everyone goes out of their way to arrange their schedules for the chosen date. Canceling at the last minute not only causes the above problems, if it leads to a game cancellation, causes the DM to rush to contact the other players and let them know that the game is off. This is a real downer for those who were looking forward to the session.

Show up on time

This is self-explanatory, but it needs to be mentioned. Many people have plans after the game, and a late start invariably means a late finish, which can affect the plans of others. 

Be prepared

We only play once a month. That gives you ample time to level-up your character if needed, read through your class abilities, research spells, and perform whatever other tasks are necessary to prepare for the next game session, so that when you arrive, you’re ready to play the game.

If you have questions for the DM, it’s a good idea to arrive early and ask them before the start of the game.

Be respectful of your fellow players

Don’t hog the spotlight or criticize the plans, or ideas, of others. If an idea is presented that you do not agree with, tactfully express why you do not agree or what problems you see with the plan. If you do not have a better idea, perhaps the group can work with the idea presented to make it agreeable for everyone.

Likewise, if you have an idea, present it tactfully to the party and ask for suggestions and/or opinions. Don’t have your feelings hurt, or take it personally, if everyone else doesn’t like your plan. Not every plan is a winner.

You’ll notice the word “tactfully” used above. I stress this because, often, it’s not so much what you say, but how you say it. 

Don’t complain about the rules

As a whole, the rules for the Haldane campaign have seen little modification from the core rules. This likely isn’t going to change, and rules will not be modified because someone likes a previous version of the game’s rule better. 

Complaining about how a new spell, feat, or ability is weaker in the current ruleset only detracts from the focus at the gaming table, even if the argument is legitimate. 

Don’t argue with the DM

When the DM makes a ruling, accept it, and move on, even if you don’t agree with it. Most of the time the DM is just trying to keep the game moving, and arguing about rules simply slows down the table.